Egg cleaning machine



Nov. 17, 1942. R. s. DAvls Y EGG CLEANING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1941 Sv mw MQ s R0 Jim/ef ,DW/J BY 6%642 AT 0 NEYs.

Nov. 17, 1942. R. s. DAvls 2,301,931

EGG CLEANING MACHINE Filed April '7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 am Tiff' P527411 44 7 45 47 43 4417 ZZ? 55 -67 [Z7 44 6N 54K "I E v57 1p 47 55 M54 -i 4 45 T 1L 40 54 /4 fz 5@ 56 L? fil ,1 L* 2f INVENTOR.

Nov. 17, 1942. RS@ DAVIS 2,301,931

EGG CLEANING MACHINE Filed April 7, ,1941 s sheets-sheet s INVENTOR 507 Jian/e Ddl/5 l BY Q N AZORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EGG CLEANING MACHINE Roy Stanley Davis, Otsego, Mich. Application April 7, 1941, Serial N0. 387,211

13 claims.

This invention relates to improvements in egg cleaning machine.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved egg cleaning or scrubbing machine of large capacity which is continuous in operation and may be tended by' aH single operator,

Second, to provide a machine of the typedescribed wherein a large number of eggs o r similar articles are simultaneously subjected to a scrubbing cleaning action and in which the articles are passed through the machine without rough handling or treatment, such as would be likely to result in breakage or damage.

Further objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying 4the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation illustrating the machine of my invention, the view being partially broken away to more clearly illustrate details of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in end elevation looking from the right in Fig. l, the view being partially broken away in section for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation illustrating details of the driving or actuating mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical, longitudinal section illustrating an arrangement for reversing the direction of travel of an article container or tray carriage during the operation of the machine and at one end of its orbital travel therethrough.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating the manner of reversing the travel of the container or tray carriage at the opposite end of its travel in the machine.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating details of the brushing or scrubbing mechanism.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a container or tray carrier constituting a part of the machine, with the removable container or tray positioned therein and the top of the tray opened.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section illustrating the article tray in open position in solid lines for the loading -of eggs or fil shown in dotted lines in its operative closed position.

'I'his invention relates generally to a cleaning or scrubbing machine which is particularly'designed for cleaning eggs in large quantities in commercial packing or storage plants. The machine is continuous in operation and requires only a single operator to tend the same, though its output is sufciently great that several persons may be employed in loading and unloading the containers or trays in the machine, in order to operate the machine at maximum capacity. A feature of considerable importance-in the present structure isA the fact that, though the eggs are continually circulated through the machine in an orbital path the same are not subject to sudden jolts or impacts such as would be likely to damage the eggs.

In the drawings the reference numeral i designates the frame of my machine, which may be of suitable welded angle iron construction, appropriately braced by longitudinal and transverse braces 2. Fra-me i supports an elongated tank 3 of rectangular section which is substantially coextensive in length and width with the frame and is adapted to be filled approximately to its top with suitable cleaning or detergent fluid such as water, a mixture of water and any desired cleaning agent, or "any other detergent fluid commonly used for the purposes to be described. Tank 3 is braced and supported on the frame by the angle iron cross members 4 and vertical struts 5. On the upper side members 6 of frame I are arranged the pairs of aligned bearings 1, 8 which rotatably receive the stub shafts 9 of pairs of front and rear sprockets i0, Il, respectively, it being understood that there are two aligned sprockets I0 on either side of the machine at one end thereof and two further aligned sprockets Il similarly arranged in longitudinally spaced relation thereto. These sprockets have the laterally spaced conveyor chains or link belts i2 trained thereover, the lower reach of these chains being below the liquid level of the tank when the same is filled. The chains I2 are adapted to receive basket carriers or carriages to be hereinafter described for transporting wire mesh baskets or trays loaded with eggs or other articles through the liquid in the tank, in the manner to be described.

The sprockets Ii are driven by a pulley i3 on one side of the machine (see Figs. 1 and 3), which pulley is driven by a flexible belt i4 from a pulley articles therein, the top section of the tray being F15 I5 on the shaft of a suitable motor I E, the operation of which is controlled by a switch (not shown).

Motor I6 has a pinion I1 on its shaft meshing1 with a crank gear I6 suitably journaled on a stub shaft on the frame, and the gear I6 has a connecting rod or pitman 20 pivoted eccentrically thereto. Pitman 20 serves to oscillate a pair of rigidly connected lever arms 2|, 22 which are pivoted on a bracket 23 on the side member 6 of the frame, for the purpose of longitudinally reciprocatingly connecting the brush actuating rod or link 24, which is pivoted to the free end oi. lever 22.

I provide a pair of parallel guide members 25, 26 above and at either side of the tank 4 for the purpose of horizontally guiding a. plurality of the upper brushes 21 which are reciprocated by connecting rod 24. As illustrated in Fig. 2, these brushes are arranged in closely spaced relation extending laterally across tank 3 and are clamped on a transverse coupling or cross-headrod I 21 the ends of which extend between and are guided by guide members 25, 26. A similar transverse coupling or cross rod 28 is similarly clamped on the brushes 21 in longitudinallyspaced relation to rodI21, and the last named rod is also guided in the Ways provided by guides 25, so that the upper brushes 21 are effectively supported for horizontal reciprocation. This reciprocation is caused by connecting rod 24, which is pivotally connected at its free end to the crosshead-rod |21, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Beneath and in opposed relation to the brushes 21 I provide a set of coacting brushes 30 similarly arranged in closely spaced horizontal spacing extending across the interior of the tank. Like the brushes 21 these brushes 30 are clamped at longitudinally spaced points to the cross-rods 3|, 32 and these are in turn guided in parallel guides or ways 33, 34 suitably supported internally of tank 3. Preferably, a separate supporting framework, including uprights 35 and cross-members 36, as illustrated in Fig. 6, is employed for supporting the brush guides, as Well as further track means to be described, these supplemental frame members being in turn suitably arranged and supported by the walls of the tank.

For the purpose of operatively coupling the lower brushes 30 to the brush reciprocating link 24 so as to reciprocate the respective brushes, in opposite directions and thereby provide a very effective scrubbing action on eggs or other articles passing therebetween, I provide the linkage best shown in Fig. 1, comprising a rocker member -or arm 31 pivoted medially of its length on the mainframe at 38 and at one end to the connecting rod 24. This'rocker is pivoted at its these rollers being in laterally spaced relation so as to travel on the tracks 40. At the forward ends thereof the carriage members'42 are connected by a rod 45 which projects beyond the sides thereof at 46, and this rod is suitably pivoted to opposite corresponding links of the chains I2 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4. The carriage side members 42 may be maintained in appropriately spaced parallel' relation by any adequate spacing provisions on the shaft 43 and rod 45.

From the foregoing, it will beappreciated that the basket carrier or carriage is translated longitudinally of the frame and tank by the chain, pivoting relative to the links of the latter to which it is secured as the chain links travel over sprockets I0, II and being guided in its vertical movement in a manner to be described.

The` carrier is adapted toremovably receive Wire containers, crates, trays or the like 41 of the `type illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, each of which comprises pivotally articulated top and bottom members 48 of welded wire mesh construction, the top and bottom members having welded thereto the raised partition wires 49 extending longitudinally and transversely, and denig separate article receiving compartments for the reception of individual eggs, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7. I contemplate that a suitable quantity of these containers shall be furnished with each machine and shall be preliminarily loaded lor charged with eggs to be cleaned, each other end to a connecting rod or link 39, which is in turn pivoted to the lower brush coupling and guide rod 32 so that reciprocation of connecting rod 24 and the upper brushes through the pitman 20-and levers 2| and 22 results in the simultaneous reciprocation of link 33 and the lower brushes in the opposite direction.

Suitably disposed on and supported by the uprights of the auxiliary or supplemental Yframe in the tank, I provide a pair of horizontal tracks 40, the same being arranged adjacent and underneath the lover reach of the chains I2 and being adapted to support the carrier or conveyor 4I for article containers or baskets as it traverses the tank. This carrier or carriage is illustrated in Fig. '1 and comprises spaced side members or bars 42 which receive at their rear ends the shaft 43 upon which rollers 44 are rotatably mounted, 75

thereof being of a capacity to receive the contents of at least one cell unit of an egg crate.

In the operation of the machine, the containers are removed from the traveling carriages as the same arrive at the upper reach of the conveyor and a container of eggs t0 be cleaned substituted therefor. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the containers may be swung to open solid line position -for charging eggs therein, then to closed dotted line position, in which position the container members may be held together by suitable snap Vmeans if desired, though this is not necessary.

I have fog convenience shown the container in open position in Fig. 7, but it will be understood thatin practice it is closed for handling and is not opened in the carrier. It will be noted in Fig. 'I that the side frame members of rods 49| yof each of the trays or containers project laterally for overlapping, supporting engagement With the side members 42 of the pivoted carrier, thereby enabling the containers to be sustainingly supported by the carriers during the travel lof the latter through the machine.

It has been mentioned that the horizontal tracks support the rollers 44 of the carriers as the latter are translated by chains I2 through the liquid in tank 3. This occurs as the carriers move in a direction from right to left as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4, the tracks being substantially submerged in liquid in the tank. To support the loaded carriers during the reverse movement thereof as they emerge from the tank and travel in the opposite direction or to the right in Figs. 1 and 4, I provide spaced, upper horizontal tracks 50 adjacent and beneath the upper reach of chain I2. These latter tracks have downturned ends 5I terminating in spaced relation to the tracks 40 and provided with switch members 52 pivoted to these terminal portions and normally resting on tracks 40, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Thus, as the rollers 44 of the carriers travel to the left, they engage, elevate and pass beneath vthe switch members 52, which latter then drop from the solid line to the dotted line position of Fig. 4. This occurs at the lett handend o! the horizontal travel ot the carrier as the conveyor chains l2 are carrying the forward end o! the carrier upwardly around the sprockets Il. When the horizontal mid-point ot the sprockets is reached the direction of travel of the conveyor chains'start to reverse with attendant reversal 'of the direction oi travel oi the carrier. This causes rollers u to travel up switch members Il and the inclined ends il o! loading tracks Il as illustrated in dotted lineslin Fig. 4, and the carriers are pushed along on tracks Il until they reach. the ena of tracks Il.

Closely adiacent but in longitudinally spaced relation to the ends of the tracks I provide a pair o t supplemental or auxiliary horizontal tracks Il supported on brackets Il attached to the frame, these auxiliary tracks I3 extending to a point spaced somewhat from the upturned ends Il of the lower tracks Il.' and it will be appreciated cluding the pivoting rod Il, is passing around the periphery of sprockets il. When the horizontal mdi-point of this periphery is passed the direction of travel is again reversed and the carriage travels to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 4 and past the brushes.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. l that the axis of roller u and the point of connection of rod ll to chain I2 are so related that the carrier and article container are on a horizontal level during this operative travel and that the container passes between the opposed brushes 21, tl in a horizontal plane wherebyan eii'ective scrubbing action takes place on the article in the basket 41. The tufts of the respective upper and lower brushes are spaced appropriately so that a good scrubbing action will be had regardless of the presence oi' the wires of the removable container or tray in which the eggs are arranged, the eggs being immersed in the cleaning liquid during scrubbing and being subject to the brushes for a sumcient length of time for effective scrubbing notwithstanding the fact that the motion of translation is continuous, so that all traces oi' dirt are removed.

Following the scrubbing and cleaning as described, the egg container carriers are translated past switch members l! then upwards on the inclined portions Il to horizontal loading and unloading track whereby the container may be removed by the attendant and a new'container substituted in lits place. These are the only operations that the attendant must perform. The operation is continuous, the articles are not subjected to sharp or violenttumbling impacts or anything which might tend to damage the same, and the scrubbing is very emciently performed. n

A suitable drain l0 may be provided for the tank for emptying and cleaning the same when desired.

An embodiment of the invention which incorporates the principles of the invention in a highly desirable manner has been illustrated and described. It vshould be understood that the ioregoing terminology is used descriptively rather than in a hunting sense, and with full intention to include equivalents oi the features shown and described. within the scope oi the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

l. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a support. a tank on said support, opposed brushes mounted for parallel horizontal reciprocation in opposite directions, a conveyor chain on said support disposed with the upper and lower reaches thereof parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the brushes and with the lower reach immersed in liquid in the tank, a carrier pivoted at one end to said chain, said tank having a ,lower track therein engageable by the free opposite end oi' said carrier for supporting the latter as the carrier is horizontally translated through the tank between said brushes by the conveyor, an open mesh wire container for a plurality of articles re' movably receivable on said carrier, a horizontal upper track on the support having a downturned end terminating in a vertically spaced relation to said lower track and provided with a switch mem- 'ber pivoted thereto and normally resting on the lower track, said switch member being elevated by said carrier in one direction oi' the horizontal -switch member adapted to receive and support the free end of said carrier at the extremity oi its motion in said opposite direction, and means for reciprocating said brushes and continuously operating. said conveyor chain.

2. In a cleaning machine of the type described,

` a support, a tank on said support, brush means in said tank operative to scrub articles translated therepast, a conveyor chain on said support disposed with the upper and lower reaches thereof horizontal and with the lower reach immersed in liquid in the tank, a carrier pivoted at one end to said chain, said tank having a lower track therein engageable by the free opposite end of said carrier for supporting the latter as the carrier is horizontally translated through the tank in engagement with said brush means by the conveyor. a container for a plurality of articles` removably receivable on said carrier, said conveyor. or chain translating said carrier in an orbital path on said upper and lower tracks, means at the extremities of horizontal travel of the carrier for reversing the direction of said horizontal carrier travel without inverting the carrier, a horizontal upper track on the support having a downturned end terminating in a vertically spaced relation to said lower track and provided with a switch member pivoted thereto and normally resting on the lower track, said switch member being elevated by said carrier in one direction of the horizontal movement of the latter4 carrier is horizontally translated .through the' tank in engagement with said brush means 'by the conveyor, a container for a plurality of articles removably receivable on said carrier, a horizontal upper track on the support having a downturned end terminating in a vertically spaced relation to said lower track and provided with a switch member pivoted thereto and normally resting on the lower track, said switch member being elevated by said carrier in one direction of the horizontal movement of the latter and supporting and elevating the same in the opposite direction of horizontal movement as the chain travels upwardly around one of said sprockets, and means for actuating said brush means and operating said conveyor chain.

- therein engageable by the free opposite end of said carrier for supporting the latter as the carrier is horizontally translated through the tank in engagement with said brush means by the conveyor, a container for a plurality of articles removably receivable on said carrier, a horizontal upper track on the support, said conveyor chain translating said carrier in an orbital 'path on said upper and lower tracks, means at the extremities of horizontal travel of the carrier for reversing the direction of said horizontal carrier travel without inverting the carrier, and means for actuating said brush means and operating said conveyor chain. v

5. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a support, a tank on said support, opposed brushes mounted for parallel horizontal reciprocation in opposite directions, a conveyor chain on said support disposed with the upper and lower reaches thereof parallel to the direction of reciprocation of the brushes and with the lower reach immersed in liquid inthe tank, a carrier pivoted at one end to said chain, said tank having a lower track therein engageable by the free opposite end of said carrier for supporting the latter as the carrier is horizontally translated through the tank between said brushes by the conveyor, an open mesh wire container for a plurality of articles removably receivable on said carrier, a horizontal upper track on the support, said conveyor chain translating said carrier in an orbital path on said upper and lower tracks, means at the extremities of horizontal travel of the carrier for reversing the direction of said horizontal carrier travel without inverting the carrier, and means for reciprocating said brushes and continuously operating said conveyor chain.

6. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, a chain conveyor disposed horizontally parallel to said tank with the lower reach thereof immersed in liquid in the tank, an article carrier having a container for a plurality of articles rebeing pivotally connected at one end to a link of said chain conveyor and being translated thereby in opposite horizontal directions, means for supporting the opposite end of said carrier as the same travels horizontally of the tank, means for elevating and lowering said last named end as the portion of the conveyor to which it is pivoted reverses its direction of travel and successively carries the pivoted end ofthe carrier to the upper movably receivable therein, said article carrier and lower reaches of the chain, whereby said carrier is translated in either direction without inverting the same, a pair of opposed brushes mounted -for parallel horizontal reciprocation in said tank in opposite directions, said brushes. being disposed adjacent the path of travel of the carrier through the tank for scrubbing coaction with articles in said container, and means, for reciprocating said brushes and continuously actuating said chain conveyor.

'7. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, a flexible orbital conveyordisposed hori zontally parallel to said tank with the lower reach thereof immersed inliquid in the tank, an article carrier having a container for a plurality of articles removably receivable therein, said article carrier being .pivotally connected at one end to said conveyor and being translated thereby in opposite horizontal directions, means for supporting the opposite end of said carrier as the same travels horizontally of the tankmeans for elevating and lowering said last named end'as the portion of the conveyor to which it is pivoted reverses its direction of travel and successively carries the pivoted end of the carrier tothe upper and lower reaches of the chain, whereby said carrier is translated in either direction without inverting the same, brush means adjacent the path of horizontal travel of the carrier in one direction for scrubbing coaction with articles in said container, and means for actuating said .brush means and conveyor.

8. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, a ilexible orbital conveyor disposed horizontally parallel to said tank with the lower reach thereof immersed in liquid in the tank, an article carrier pivotally connected at one end to said conveyor and translated thereby in opposite horizontal directions, means for supporting the opposite end of said carrier as the same travels horizontally of the tank, meansV for elevating and lowering said last named end as the portion of the conveyor to which it is pivoted reverses its direction oi travel and successively carries the pivoted end oi the carrier to the upper and lower reaches of the chain, whereby said carrier is translated in either direction without inverting the same, brush means adjacent the path of horizontal travel of the carrier in one direction for scrubbing coaction with articles in said carrier, and means for actuating said brush means and conveyor.

9. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, rpairs of aligned rotatable sprockets mounted in longitudinally spaced relation above the tank and having chains trained thereover with the lower reach of the chains immersed in liquid in the tank, an article carrier disposed between said chains and pivotally connected at one end to opposed links thereof, rollers rotatably mounted on the other end of said carrier, said tank having elongated horizontal tracks disposed adjacent and below the lower horizontal reach of said chains, on which said rollers travel as the carrier is translated longitudinally of the tank by said chains, further horizontal tracks disposed adjacent and below the upper horizontal reach of said chains, said last named tracks having downwardly inclined ends terminating above said first named tracks and .provided with switch members pivoted thereto and normally resting on said first named tracks, said switch members being elevated by said carrier as the latter passes therebeneath in one direction, and rollingly receiving and elevating the rollers of the carrier as the direction of the latter is reversed at one extremity of the horizontal carrier travel, means for reversing the direction of travel of said carrier at the other extremity thereof without inverting the carrier, opposed pairs of brushes disposed in said tank on eitherside of the path of said carrie, means for mounting said brushes for parallel movement in opposite horizontal directions, and means for rotating said sprockets and reciprocating said brushes whereby articles supported by said carrier are translated by said chains and scrubbed by the brushes during said translation. a

l0. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, pairs of aligned rotatable sprockets mounted in longitudinally spaced relation above the tank and having chains trained thereover with the lower reach of the chains immersed in liquid in the tank, an article carrier disposed between said chains and pivotally connected at one end to opposed links thereof, rollers rotatably mounted on the other end of said carrier, said tank having elongated horizontal tracks disposed adjacent and below the lower horizontal reach of said chains, on which said rollers travel as the carrier is translated longitudinally of the tank by said chains, further horizontal tracks disposed adjacent and below the upper horizontal reach of said chains, said last named tracks having downwardly inclined ends terminating above said first named tracks and provided with switch members pivoted thereto and normally resting on said first named tracks, said switch members being elevated by said carrier as the latter passes therebeneath in one direction, and rollingly receiving and elevating the rollers of the carrier as the direction of the latter is reversed at one extremity of the horizontal carrier travel, means for reversing the direction of travel of said carrier at the other extremity thereof without inverting the carrier, brushes disposed adjacent the path oi.' said carrier, and means for rotating said sprockets and actuating said brushes whereby articles supported by said carrier are translated by said chains and scrubbed by the brushes during said translation.

11. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, a chain conveyor disposed parallel to said tank, an article carrier having an open mesh-like container for a plurality of articles removably receivable therein, said article carrier being pivotally connected at one end to a link of said chain conveyor and being orbitally translated thereby in opposite horizontal directions to transport articles through and past the tank respectively, means for supporting the opposite end of said carrier during the horizontal translation thereof, and brush means disposed adjacent the path of travel of the carrier for scrubbing coaction with articles in said container, said article carrier remaining connected to said conveyor during its translation in opposite horizontal directions and the reversal of direction at the end of at least one of the horizontal reaches in said translation.

12. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, a chain conveyor disposed parallel to said tank, an article carrier having an open mesh-like container for a plurality of articles removably receivable therein, said article carrier being connected at one end to said chain conveyor and being orbitally translated thereby in opposite horizontal directions to transport articles through and past the tank respectively, and brush means disposed adjacent the path 0f travel of the carrier for scrubbing coaction with articles in said container, said article carrier remaining connected to said conveyor during its translation in opposite horizontal directions and the reversal of direction at the end of at least one of the horizontal reaches in said translation.

13. In a cleaning machine of the type described, a tank, a continuous orbital conveyor disposed parallel to said tank, an article carrier having an open mesh-like container for a plurality of articles removably receivable therein, said article carrier being connected to said conveyor and being orbitally translated thereby in opposite horizontal directions to transport articles longitudinally of the tank, and brush means disposed adjacent the path of travel of the carrier for scrubbing coaction with articles in said container, said article carrier remaining connected to said conveyor during its translation in opposite horizontal directions and the reversal of direction at the 4end of at least one of the horizontal reaches in said translation.

ROY STANLEY DAVIS. 

